Innovative Research into alternative materials that lessen the negative impact the construction industry has on our natural environment is rapidly gaining momentum. For instance, fibre-reinforced polymeric materials (FRP) made from renewable resources such as biobased polymers and natural plant fibres (such as hemp) being one possible solution.
Rio made use of this material to shroud rooftop plant on their super sustainable “green office” design at Thorpe Park, Leeds. Four 15 metre long monocoque FRP structures proved to be the perfect solution being light and extremely strong. The structure proved considerably more cost effective than a steel solution and due to its polymeric nature allowed us to choose from a myriad of colours and textures. This material, more commonly found in boats and racing cars dramatically reduced the requirement for steelwork support whilst providing the sleek aesthetic we required.
Advantages of such materials include a reduced dependence on nonrenewable energy sources for material production and reduction of non-degrading construction & demolition debris in landfills. The ability of these materials to replace various non-structural and structural materials in buildings, to avoid deterioration while in-service, and to biodegrade after their useful service life provides the industry with a credible alternative to steel, concrete and timber.
For a material to be genuinely environmentally friendly, its entire production process should be a closed system. The waste released by each production process should be usable in the next process, forming a cradle to cradle production cycle. Hemp plastic reinforced polymer products, for instance, can be reused as many as seven times and even when the product has reached the end of its life cycle, it can be collected and made into energy pellets for electricity generation, during which only water and CO2 are released when combusted.
We believe that FRP’s will become common place in the construction industry over the coming decade as sustainable materials become more and more important.
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